Stepladder and base therefor



April 7, 1953 v. w. BORTEL 2,634,037

STEPLADDER AND BASE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 11. 1950 r INVENTbiQ; if 16 $5 1 2mm: I I/TBIJH'IEL.

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEPLADDER AND BASE THEREFOR Vance W. Bortel, Toledo, Ohio Application February 11, 1950, Serial No. 143,668 3 Claims. (01. 22 8 -64) This invention relates to ladder constructions and more particularly to a novel and improved type of stepladder.

The conventional form of stepladder embodies a brace or strut means usually pivotally connected to the upper portion of the ladder structure so as to render the ladder stable in an upright position of use. The conventional type of stepladder has among others the disadvantage that the pivoted strut, when in an operative or open position so as torender the ladder self-supporting, projects in an angular direction a major distance rearwardly of the ladder which in many instances prevents the stepladder from being placed close to or adjacent the objects sought to be reached through the use of a ladder.

The present invention relates to a stepladder construction in which a suitable supporting means or base frame is so connected to and associated with the ladder body as to provide an adequate base structure so as to render the ladder self-supporting and adequately stable when in an operative position or position of use.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a stepladder construction provided with a suitable base structure so as to be self-supporting in a position of use without the employment of stays or braces which impair the use of a conventionalstepladder for many purposes.

An object of the invention comprehends a form of stepladder which is solely supported in an upright or upwardly extending position of use through the medium of a base frame or member disposed coincident with a supporting surface thus eliminating the use of intermediate bracing members or struts.

Still another object is the provision of a ladder construction having a base frame articulately connected to the ladder body at the lower end thereof and swingable to a position providing a support for the ladder body and which is movable to a stored position when the ladder is not in use. The invention embraces means for maintaining the ladder body and supporting frame in operative position and is of a character in which the supporting frame may be quickly moved to a position out of use without the employment of tools.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel type of stepladder construction which may be fabricated of wood and metal or which may be made entirely of metal.

The present invention particularly comprehends a novel stepladder which is constructed so that the same may be moved into close proximity to various objects and has particular utilityin garages for car washing and cleaning operations,

for picking fruit from trees and for other similar uses or purposes.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the ladder construction of my invention in a position of use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the ladder construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the ladder construction of my invention;

Figure 4 i an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing a means of connecting the base frame with the ladder body;

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the construction illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail plan view illustrating a bracket construction forming a part of the construction, and

Figure 7 is a semidiagrammatic view illustrating the method of foldingthe base frame to a stored or out-of-use position.

While I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention of a size and character especially adapted for use in washing and cleaning automobiles, it is to be understood that the principles of my invention may be embodied in ladder constructions of different sizes suitable or usable for other purposes.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a form of ladder construction of my invention including a pair of side pieces or strips l0 made of wood or metal disposed in slightly convergent relation which are assembled with a series of spaced steps or treads l l the side pieces being joined at their upper ends to a cap step or tread 12 which is secured to the side pieces by means of suitable brackets M. The side pieces l0 are preferably notched or recessed to accommodate the ends of the steps or treads H which are held in place by means of bolts or stay rods Hi. The side pieces l0, steps I l and cap step in assembled relation are hereinafter collectively referred to as the ladder body or assembly.

Secured to the lower end of each of the side pieces I0 is a bracket or member l6 of U-shaped construction as particularly shown in Figure 6 formed with a web portion l1 and parallel sides or leg portions I8. The sides l8 of the bracket are spaced to receive or straddle a side piece I0 as illustrated in Figure 5. The side piece and bracket associated therewith are provided with registering openings to receive means in the form of rivets 20 for connecting each bracket and side piece together in fixed relation.

The arrangement of my invention is inclusive of a base frame or member which is cooperatively associated with the ladder body to maintain the ladder in an upwardly extending position of use. In the embodiment illustrated the base frame is fashioned in the form of a U-shaped member 22 preferably formed of metal of tubular configuration in cross section, each of the leg portions 23 thereof extending between the side walls 18 of a bracket It in the manner shown in Figure 3. The side walls i8 of the brackets have forwardly extending portions or projections, the projections 24 and ends of the leg portions 23 being provided with registering openings to receive pivot pins 25 by means of which the base frame 22 is pivotally and thus swingably connected to the brackets E6.

The web portion 1'! of each of the U-shaped brackets is is bent or formed with a forwardly extending ledge or lip 2? which provides a bearing means or abutment engageable with the base frame 22 when the ladder construction is in an operative position of use as indicated in Figures 2 and 4.

Means are provided for normally maintaining the base frame 22 and side piece and step assembly in position of use. In the embodiment illustrated, one or both of the brackets 18 may be formed with integral inwardly struck projections 28 disposed in the bracket l8 in a position whereby when the leg portions 23 of the base frame 22 are in the position indicated in Figures 2, 4 and 5, i. e. in a position of use, the inwardly struck projections 28 will engage the leg portion 23 to yieldingly oppose relative pivotal movement of the base frame 22 with respect to the side piece and tread assembly. Through the employment of projections 28 or an equivalent construction a user may move the ladder construction during utilization of the device without the base frame 22 being inadvertently pivoted about the pivot shafts or pins 25. side walls of one or both brackets it may be used in lieu of the inwardly struck projections 28 if desired. The side walls of the brackets have sufficient flexibility to be slightly sprung outwardly as the base frame is swung into or out of operative position with the brackets.

In use, the device is in the position illustrated -in Figure 2 with the base frame disposed upon a supporting floor or surface S. As a typical exempli-fication of use of the structure, I have found that it is particularly adaptable for washing vehicle bodies or performing work operations where it is necessary that the user be elevated above the floor or ground. As the base frame 22 lies parallel or coextensive with the supporting floor or ground, it may be moved beneath a vehicle so as to permit the ladder assembly to be brought close to the vehicle or other object upon which work may be performed. A particularly characteristic advantage of applicants invention is the complete elimination of diagonally arranged struts, supports or the like which are necessary components of the conventional type of stepladder.

Figure 7' illustrates the side piece and tread Headed rivets secured to the assembly and base frame 22 folded or collapsed to an out-of-use position. When it is desired to store the ladder construction, the base frame member 22, being in full open position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure '7, is swung about the axis of the pivot pins 25 in a clockwise direction to the position indicated in full lines in Figure '7, the frame member 22 then being disposed longitudinally coextensive with the side piece and tread assembly. The frame member 22 in a position of use may be easily dislodged by pressure in a clockwise direction so as to cause the portion of the brackets 18 adjacent the projection 28 to spring or yield outwardly to permit the leg portions 23 to pass the retaining means or projection 28. To establish an operative condition of the device, the base frame 22 may be swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 from full line to dotted line position, the legs 23 of the frame, in moving into the position shown in Figures 2 and 4, flexing the walls of the brackets It slightly outwardly as they engage and pass the projections to contact the abutment or bearing means 21.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated is of conventional stepladder size embodying five steps, it is to be understood that the ladder construction may be of any height and if made longer and equipped with more steps, the U-shaped frame 22 may be made proportionately longer to provide the necessary stability for the added height of the ladder. If an all metal construction is desired, the steps may be of flanged metal plates and the side pieces fabricated of light weight metal of tubular cross section without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A ladder construction including in combination a pair of spaced side pieces; a plurality of treads carried by said side pieces, a bracket having spaced walls fixedly secured to the lower end of each of said side pieces; a U-shaped element having its leg portions pivotally connected to said brackets; said brackets having bearing portions engageable with said U-shaped element whereby said side piece and tread assembly is supported in an upwardly inclined position-of-use, and means including projections struck up from the wall portions of the brackets engageable with the leg portions of the U-shaped element for normally retaining said U-shaped element and the side pieces in a relative position-of-use.

2. A ladder construction including a pair of spaced side pieces; a plurality of treads carried by said side pieces; a metal bracket secured to one end of each of saidside pieces; each of said brackets having spaced side walls and a forwardly extending portion; a U-shaped frame element; the extremities of the leg portions thereof being pivoted to the forwardly extending portions of said brackets, said brackets being formed with rearwardly disposed bearing surfaces engageable with the U-shaped element for normally supporting the side pieces in an upwardly extending angular position; means on a wall of each of said brackets engageable with saidframe element for yieldably securing the assembly of side pieces and treads in an operative position of use, said bracket walls being yieldable whereby said frame may be swung about its pivotal connection out of engagement with the securing means on the walls of the V brackets to an out-of-use position.

3. A ladder construction including a pair of spaced side pieces; a plurality of treads carried by said side pieces; a metal bracket secured to one end of each of said side pieces; each brackof each of said brackets engageable with said frame element for maintaining said side pieces in such angular position of use, said frame being adapted to be swung about its pivotal connection to an inefiective position longitudinally coextensive with said side pieces.

VANCE W. BORTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 221,780 Clark Nov. 18, 1879 1,811,722 Kimberlin June 23, 1931 1,902,011 Brewer Mar. 21, 1933 

